Compaction bodies



June 18, 1963 G.'R. DEMPSTER 'EI'AL 3, 27

COMPACTION BODIES Filed Dec. 31, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 650/965la aE/vRfiZEK, pa /40 AHEIFHOV) ATTORNEY5 June 18, 1963 G. R. DEMPSTERETAL 3,094,227

COMPACTION BODIES Filed Dec. 51, 1958 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR6ATTORNEYS June 18, 1963 G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,

COMPACTION BODIES Filed Dec. 51, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYSINVENTORS,

June 18, 1963 G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 3,094,227

COMPACTION BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. :51, 1958 INVENTORSATTORNEB United States Patent 3,094,227 COMPACTION BODIES George R.Dempster and William A. Herpich, Knoxville, Tenn.; said Herpich assignorto Dempster Brothers, Inc., a corporation of Tennessee Filed Dec. 31,1958, Ser. No. 784,241 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-82) This application is acontinuation-in-part of our prior application for Compaction Bodies,Serial No. 728,970, filed April 16, 1958, now Patent No. 2,951,600,granted September 6, 1960.

This invention relates to improvements in compaction bodies and moreparticularly to such vehicle bodies as are adapted for use in collectingrefuse, such as garbage, trash, etc., and transporting the same to apoint of dumping.

In compaction 'bodim of the type described, it has been the practiceheretofore to use a compaction head operatively mounted in the body forreciprocating movement lengthwise relative thereto, for compacting thematerial collected in the body during the accumulation thereof and fordischarging such material at the point of dumping. Usually, thecompaction head is operated by a doubleacting hydraulic cylinder such,for example, as a telescopic cylinder that will cause the desiredreciprocating movement of the compaction head. An example thereof, asused heretofore, is illustrated in Herpich et al. Patent No. 2,800,234,granted July 23, 1957.

With the aforesaid construction as built heretofore, the operatingcylinder is connected at one end with the compaction head and at itsopposite end with the vehicle body at the top of the body, from whichpoint of mounting it extends downwardly to the point of connection withthe head. This disposition of the cylinder does not permit completecross bracing across the face of the compaction head. Thus, the packerhead is materially weakened by reason of the disposition of the cylinderwith respect thereto. Moreover, experience has shown that material canwedge between the packer crown and the top of the body, resulting incollapse of the packer assembly, starting at the extreme upper face andprogressing downwardly.

One object of this invention is to overcome these objections and toimprove the construction of the compaction mechanism in the body.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of thepacker head and the mounting of the power cylinder with respect to thebody, so as to provide an effective operation and a sturdy and rigidcompaction head which will not permit of the possibility of collapse inservice.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of theinvention, by providing a compaction head operatively mounted in avehicle body for reciprocating movements lengthwise relative thereto, toreceive refuse at one face of the head when it is in one extremeposition and to compact the refuse in the body when the head is moved toan opposite extreme position. A hydraulic cylinder preferably isconnected with the head for causing said reciprocating movementsthereof. The power cylinder is connected at one end with the head and atthe opposite end with a portion of the body.

It is desirable that the power cylinder should not extend in the headthroughout a substantial portion of the height thereof. Consequently,the point of connection of the cylinder with the body is lowered so asto be disposed appreciably below the top of the body. Thus, the cylinderdoes not interfere with the cross bracing of the head and the latter canbe constructed so sturdy as to prevent the possibility of collapse inservice. Additional strength ICC is given across the packer crown, dueto the continuous cross bracing at such point.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle, showing the compactionbody applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a face view of the packer head removed;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packer head;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation thereof;

FIG. 6 is a detail elevation, showing the mounting of a deflection anglethereon; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section therethrough, on the line 77 in FIG. 6.

The invention is shown in FIG. 1 as applied to a motor vehicle of thecharacter comprising a vehicle chassis, generally indicated at 1, withfront and rear 'wheels 2 and 3. The vehicle preferably is power operatedand self-propelled through the usual driving mechanism controlled by anoperator in a cab 4, which may also enclose the engine, according tosome forms of vehicles.

Mounted on the chassis 1 is a compaction body, generally indicated at 5,and which is shown as an elevated enclosed structure with suitable meanssuch, for example, as discharge doors at the rear thereof, fordischarging the refuse therefrom. A filling opening is usually providedin the top of the body, which is indicated generally at 6 in FIG. 1, tofacilitate dumping of the refuse into the body. Suitable side doors maybe used also, if desired.

Operatively mounted in the body 5 is a packer head, generally indicatedat 7, adapted for reciprocating movement lengthwise of the body betweenthe position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and a selected position inthe rear portion of the body, according to the quantity of refusetherein. Guide channels 8- are provided on opposite sides of the body 5open to the interior thereof for guiding the rectilinear movements ofthe packer head.

A hydraulic cylinder is shown at 9, preferably of the telescopic typeand double-acting, for reciprocating the packer head 7 lengthwise of thebody. The upper end portion of the cylinder 9 is pivotally connected at10 with the body, while the lower end portion thereof is pivotallyconnected at 11 with the packer head 7, dis posing the cylinder 9 in anoblique position and so disposed relative to the packer head as to causerectilinear movements thereof in the body.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the construction of the packer head 7 isillustrated as including a base section 12 pro vided with shoes,generally indicated at '13, at opposite ends of the packer head, whichshoes ride in the guide channels 8 in the body. An example of theoperation of such mechanism and more detailed illustration of thestructure thereof is shown in our prior application for CompactionBodies, now Patent No. 3,049,250, granted August 14, 1962.

The base section .12 includes a transversely extending box girder 14that extends substantially throughout the length of the head 7.Connected with this transverse girder 14 are bearing plates 115, towhich the pivot 11 at the lower end of the cylinder 9 is connected.

The face plate 16 extends upward from the box girder 14 and is turneddownward along the face thereof, with a depending lower end section 17forming a continuation of the face plate on the packer head. The faceportion, that is indicated at 17 in FIG. 5, and the adjacent portion atthe face of the girder 14 provide a vertical face near the bottom of thepacker head, which has a tendency to comp-act the material near thebottom of the body 5 instead of deflecting it upwardly along an inclinedface on the packer. In actual loading tests, it has been found that thevertical portion of the packer face near the bottom adds considerably tothe efiiciency of the packer body.

The lower edge portion of the section 17 forms a lip that rides on thebottom of the body and maintains a close fitting relation thereto.

The upper end of the face plate 16 terminates appreciably below the topof the packer head and is provided with an intermediate cross member 18that extends all the way across the upper portion of the packer head 7in continuous fashion, but spaced downwardly an appreciable distancebelow the top. This upper section may also be braced at the oppositeside from the face plate 16 as by welding or otherwise securing achannel member 19 thereon.

As shown in FIG. 4, the side of the packer head opposite the face plate16 is sturdily formed of upright sections 20 and diagonal bracing 21, aswell as horizontal bracing 22. Only a relatively small area, generallyindicated at 23 in FIG. 4, need be left open for the power cylinder 9,which open area extends only from the region of the head above the base'12 to a point spaced dovmwardly from the cross members 18 and 19,permitting the latter to extend continuously along the head from one endthereof to the other.

The upper edge portion of the packer head is provided by box assemblies,generally indicated at 24, spaced along the member 18 and may be Weldedor otherwise secured thereto. The spacing of the box assemblies 24 alongthe length of the packer head 7, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, leaves openspaces 34 between the respective assemblies suificiently wide to receivetherebetween the teeth of combs, usually provided in the top of thecompaction body (see FIG. 1) to retain the load and to keep it fromfalling back in the body. These teeth 35 are usually welded to the roofof the body and extend downward therein. The spaces 34 between themembers 24 afford sufiicient clearance for the teeth as the packer headis reciprocated lengthwise of the body.

A deflection angle may be used on the upper edge of the packer head tocause the liberation of material clamped between the head and the bodyat the edge of the filling opening 6. An example of the use of such anangle has been set forth in our prior application, Serial No. 728,970,filed April 16, 1958.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the box assemblies 24 is providedwith a deflection angle member 25, pivotally supported at 26 on thepacker face of the assembly. The angle 25 is so disposed with respect tothe packer head that it will have a shearing relation with a shear bar27 mounted on an edge of the filling opening 6, as the packer head 7 isreciprocated in the body.

The deflection angle 25 is mounted on the hinges 26 for freedom ofswinging movement with respect to the connected assembly 24 undercontrol of a tension spring 28 that extends from the angle member 25 toa bracket assembly 29 mounted on the opposite wall of the assembly 24.

As set forth in our patent application, Serial No. 728,- 970, the mainpurpose of this hinged deflection angle 25 is to make it practicallyimpossible to Wedge the packer head 7 so tightly in the body that itcannot be moved forward relative to the body toward the cab 4. Thedouble-acting hydraulic cylinder 9, as presently used, is provided withgreater force while it is being extended than during the contractionmovement of the cylinder. In the event that the packer were not providedwith a hinged deflection angle, it would be possible to Wedge materialsso tightly between the top of the packer head in the roof of the bodythat the packer head could not be moved to its full forward position.However, by the use of the hinged deflection angle 25, this could notoccur because no matter how tightly the materials may be wedged betweenthe top of the angle and the roof of the body when the movement of thepacker head forward is started, the angle 25 shifts relative to itspivot and immediately frees the material. This releases the packer headso that it can :be moved forward freely by the action of the hydrauliccylinder 9 without any possibility of it being wedged tightly in thebody.

This action of the hinged deflection angle is claimed in our aforesaidapplication, Serial No. 728,970.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in oneembodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be madetherein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a compaction body of the character described, the combination ofan elongated body portion adapted to receive refuse therein, said bodyportion having spaced rows of teeth depending from the top thereof, apacker head of substantial thickness front to rear and having a rearface portion and movably mounted in the body portion for compactingrefuse therein, said packer head having a shelf-like structural membermounted atop thereof and spaced below the top of the body portion, boxassemblies mounted on said shelf-like structural member and spaced apartin longitudinal alignment, the spaces between said assemblies beingalinged with said rows of teeth, said assemblies having upright rearfaces in upward extension of said rear face portion of said packer head.

2. A packer head having a rear face portion for use in an elongated bodyportion to move in said body portion compact refuse therein, said packerhead being of a length substantially equal to the width of said bodyportion and having trapezoidal sides with its upper ends shorter thanits lower ends, a structural shelf-like member mounted on said upperends of the packer sides, inverted U-shaped boxes mounted longitudinallyin aligned spaced relation on said shelf-like member, said boxes havingrear walls in upward extension of the rear face portion of said packerhead, a cross brace extending across the upper end of the front of saidpacker head and adjacent the front edge of said shelf-like member, thespaces between said boxes providing clearance for teeth suspended fromthe top of said body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,627,987 Northeim Feb. 10, 1953 2,630,928 McCombs Mar. 10, 19532,693,890 Bridge Nov. 9, 1954 2,741,375 Backes Apr. 10, 1956 2,800,234Herpich et a1. July 23, 1957 2,832,488 Kamin Apr. 29, 1958 2,876,918Kling Mar. 10, 1959 2,889,944 Clark et al. June 9, 1959 2,912,128 KaminNov. 10, 1959 2,951,600 Dempster et a1 Sept. 6, 1960

1. IN A COMPACTION BODY OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OFAN ELONGATED BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE REFUSE THEREIN, SAID BODYPORTION HAVING SPACED ROWS OF TEETH DEPENDING FROM THE TOP THEREOF, APACKER HEAD OF SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS FRONT TO REAR AND HAVING A REARFACE PORTION AND MOVABLY MOUNTED IN THE BODY PORTION FOR COMPACTINGREFUSE THEREIN, SAID PACKER HEAD HAVING A SHELF-LIKE STRUCTURAL MEMBERMOUNTED ATOP THEREOF AND SPACED BELOW THE TOP OF THE BODY PORTION, BOXASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID SHELF-LIKE STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND SPACED APARTIN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT, THE SPACES BETWEEN SAID ASSEMBLIES BEINGALIGNED WITH SAID ROWS OF TEETH, SAID ASSEMBLIES HAVING UPRIGHT REARFACES IN UPWARD EXTENSION OF SAID REAR FACE PORTION OF SAID PACKER HEAD.